We meet once more

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

My heartbeat matched the sound of my shoes hitting the golden floor below. I don't know why I had an ominous feeling fill me ever since the guard said that Varkish wanted to see me. Something wasn't right about any of this.

Why was I in the Elephant clan? I understand that it is the closest clan to ours geographically, but we don't have much relation with them. The bigger question that bothered me was, who brought me here?

My forehead was beaded with sweat as I walked in the array of silks presented by Varkish. The dress was a beautiful golden color with violet roses to match my eyes. My shoes were pointed and flat adorned with golden embroidered flowers. It felt like I was was walking in a garden. The headdress and veil covered my ebony hair and lower half of my face leaving only my eyes open. It was a beautiful look created by Alesha, Varsha, and Darsha but now isn't the time to gawk at clothes. I have an empire to create and unify.

The three sisters followed me as I reached the throne room. I looked around me in awe. The Elephant clan's palace was absolutely gorgeous. The ceiling and walls are painted both silver and gold with ruby red rugs covering them. Statues of important war figures and flowers littered the hallways. I closed my eyes and exhaled as I pushed open the large mahogany door in front of me. Varkish the third here I com-

What the hell?

A young boy of thirteen sat at the throne and smiled at me. I looked to the left then to the right. Was this some sort of joke? Where was Varkish the third? I walked towards the boy and smirked.

Ha. If they wanted to play a game then I will play along. I curtsied and clapped my hands as I bowed to the boy.

"I, Cherura, leader of the Fox clan, am elated to be in your presence and would like to thank his majesty for this honor upon Jeanine."

I peeked at the boy. His young features brightened as he smiled. I opened my eyes in shock. No matter who this kid was he was beautiful. Not handsome but a feminine beauty described him. His amber eyes were lined by long black rtelashes. His face smooth without a blemish in sight. The bright hair on his head contrasted with his dark honey skin. He wore a thin white silk blouse and black pants with knee high boots and a sash to match. His beauty has hereby blinded me.

Yet for some reason I felt like his features were familiar to me.

"You may raise your head Cherura. You are still as sarcastic and viciously beautiful as usual. Why are you so formal with me? Have you forgotten me so soon?"

That fricking voice. I looked up to the smirk and almost slapped myself.

"You son of a crocodile! Where is Varkish the third?!"

His laughter radiated throughout the whole room. It was light and melodic putting my loud and unruly laughter to shame.

"I'm sorry my dear Cherura I have lied to you the last time that we have met. I am Varkish the third, son of Varkish the second and the 20th emperor to the Elephant clan."

This son of a bit-. Wait I shouldn't curse the queen of the elephant clan. I can't believe that this boy is Varkish the third. Now I know where I have seen him before.

Five years ago I came to the elephant clan with my father in hopes of strength training before the incoming battle. As my father talked to the emperor at the time I saw a small boy crying in the corridor. When I saw him at the time I laughed. I couldn't believe that a boy was crying especially after growing in a clan which prides itself in not showing emotion even to your close brethren.

I walked over to the little boy and felt compassion towards him. He reminded me of my brother Jackyl who was back home. The little boy sniffled and looked at me. I then slapped his face. The boy was stunned as he looked back at me. I spoke with confidence,

"I don't know why or who made you cry but I'd this what you should be doing now? Get up and look for a solution. If it was someone who made you cry confront them. If someone treated you terribly then act like someone they should respect. Get off your ass and do something instead of sitting."

The little boy in front of me started to laugh. My fourteen year old self was in shock. No one had ever laughed at what I said. Instead they would shake or cry.

"You are very smart and kind Miss. my name is Raj, what is yours?"

My heart leaped when he called me "kind". It was the first time that someone had ever called me kind. I took the little boy's hand in mine and answered,

"Cherura."

I felt my heart melt at the mere sight of his gentle smile. It felt like it could even make Lucifer turn into an angel. For the rest of the fourteen days that I was in the elephant clan, I played with Raj and trained him in some combat skills. The more I talked to him the more that I realized that he was actually a strong kid. Despite his lean build and short stature he was strong. On my last day there we both cried as we separated. It was known in the Animaliari Kingdom that friendships and relationships outside of your respective clan were nonexistent if they weren't trade or politics related.

And now I meet this asshole once more. I ran towards his open embrace as I hugged him. For some reason the tears wouldn't stop flowing. Varkish hugged me close. Why couldn't I have a loving brother like him?

My parents always ignored me and treated me like pawn in their game to be powerful. My mother lamented next for talking to my brother, the maid's son. My father criticized every little thing that I had done stating that I was "useless". The small love that I thought I was getting was an illusion created my brother Jackyl all to deceive me and take the throne.

I sniffled and backed away from Varkish.

"By the way Varkish I always wanted to ask you how old you are."

He chuckled.

"How old do you think I am?"

"Varkish I think that you are 13."

His melodic laugh filled the room once more. I found myself smiling.

"I'm 20 Cherura."

Huh? I must have not cleaned my ears well after taking a bath this morning.

"You heard me right Cherura I am 20 years old. I know that my short stature and boy-like features say otherwise."

I then pinched my arm. I must be dreaming. The little boy I used to lay with is actually a man? And older than me!

I started laughing. It didn't matter to me he will always be a little boy. I sat in the chair near him.

"Now my dear Cherura why don't you tell me what the hell happened. How have you suddenly become the most wanted criminal of the Animaliari Kingdom?"

"Before I answer that Varkish would you tell me who brought me here?"

Just as he was about to answer me the mahogany door flew open and a voice too familiar answered.

"I did. Did you miss me during the time that we were separated my dear prey?"

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Thank you so much for reading my luvs! Please be careful and stay safe❤️